Depicting the idle life of literati in retreat. Signed with poetry inscription, artist seals and collectors seals. Circa 18th / 19th Century possibly earlier. Bought in Hong Kong in 1936. Said to be then about 100 years old.
Following is a rough translation of the writing on picture. In the Moonlight, a friend is coming from afar (Note, the friend is to be imagined as being on his way, having seat a coolie - who is depicted - in advance with his luggage). The red seal on the left is the chop of the artist.
The red seal on the bottom is the chop of the collector. Sampan on lake, floating like a leaf.
Man takes a bamboo to fish like a spirit. From the collection of Brigadier Harry Hamilton Dempsey CBE (1895 - 1973) and Mrs Stella Muriel Dempsey (1899 - 1982), acquired in Hong Kong in 1936, thence by descent to the present owners. Please contact me first, I will find out the specific quote with the postal service, especially if you are international buyers. But we can deliver for free within Central and Greater London (with strict social distancing protocol applied).
Wang Hui was a Chinese landscape painter, one of the Four Wangs. He, and the three other Wangs, dominated orthodox art in China throughout the late Ming and early Qing periods. Of the Four Wangs, Wang Hui is considered the best-known today. Here is a link of the artist bio from Metropolitan Museum of Art. Wang Hui, the most celebrated painter of late seventeenth-century China, played a key role in reinvigorating past traditions of landscape painting and establishing the stylistic foundations for the imperially sponsored art of the Qing court.
Drawing upon his protean talent and immense ambition, Wang developed an all-embracing synthesis of historical landscape styles that constituted one of the greatest artistic innovations of late imperial China. Wangs stature was confirmed in 1698 when the emperor bestowed upon him the encomium Landscapes Clear and Radiant. The item "Chinese Antique Fine Paintings 18th /19th Century Qing Watercolour Old Master" is in sale since Sunday, September 5, 2021. This item is in the category "Antiques\Asian/Oriental Antiques\Chinese\Paintings/Scrolls". The seller is "aesthetics1720to2020" and is located in London.
This item can be shipped worldwide.